Liberty, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program swept William Jewell today at Cardinal Field in a non-conference double-header, 5-0 and 9-3.
Southern (12-10, 3-3 MIAA) got another dominant performance from Abby Atkin in the circle as she threw for six innings striking out four and limiting the Cardinals to three hits and issued out one walk.
Scoring chances were at a premium until Makaila Leonhart hit a two-run single scoring Izzy Medrano and Adrianna Young. Josie Tofpi hit her second home run of the season to score Leonhart and the Lions were up 4-0 after five innings. Young scored off a throwing error by the catcher in the sixth inning to seal the game to a final score of 5-0.
Atkin picked up her sixth win of the season, Leonhart and Tofpi each had two RBIs and Young finished with two stolen bases in game one.
William Jewell (6-18, 5-7 GLVC) got on the board first in game two scoring three runs in the first inning before Bailey Lacy came in relief and stopped the Cardinal bats. Southern responded with a three run third inning as Leighton Withers singled home Lynnlee Parrott, and Kara Amos singled home Leonhart and Withers tying it at 3-3 after three innings.
Southern scored five in the fifth inning capturing the lead and extending it to innings end at 8-3. Withers hit a Sacrifice fly scoring Lynnlee Parrott, Young singled home Leonhart, Tofpi scored on a wild pitch and Grace Parrott doubled home Ashlynn Williams and Young. Tofpi capped off the game with an RBI single scoring Leonhart as the game ended 9-3.
Lacy threw 6.2 innings of relief striking out nine Cardinals and issuing out one walk in her second win of the season. Leonhart finished 4-of-4 scoring three runs herself, Withers, Amos and Grace Parrott each had two RBIs.
Next up for the Lions is a MIAA double-header against Nebraska – Kearney on the road Friday April 2nd, first pitch is set for 2pm with the second game set to being approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
